TOP GUN: BACK TO MY ROOTS

FIVE

the next few weeks were filled with countless lessons from dad and extensive planning for my first day as an assistant instructor at Top Gun
currently i was up in the air, with dad in my ear
"how you feeling kid?" he asked as his plane coasted next to mine
"fine, i forgot how much i loved flying" i looked over and smiled at him
"it's special, that's for sure, it definitely runs in the family" he said
"thanks for doing this by the way, Teaching me and all, i know your busy planning the wedding but, i really appreciate it" i said
"of course kid, i mean yeah i've been busy, but you'll always be my number one, you know that right?"
"yeah dad i know"
"plus, it's not like i could let bradley teach you, if your gonna fly then your gonna fly like a mitchell should" he said before diving down
"oh i don't think so" i yelled as i followed him
we chased each other around for about five minuets before he put me in missile - Lock
i rolled my eyes
"alright alright you win old man" i said as we headed back to the hangar
when we landed i got out of my jet, still feeling a little dizzy
"nice work up there, your improving quite fast" dad said, walking up to me
"thanks dad, i've been worried about teaching flying again, i mean i can barely fly" i said as i sat my helmet down on his desk
"your gonna do great, plus your not teaching alone and we both know you'll gain some confidence from being a superior," he said
"well we both know who i get that from now don't we" i said to him making him laugh as he pulled out his phone
"i'll be right back, penny called me" he said and he walked away
i looked at the board in front of me still covered in pictures, my favorite was the one of dad and goose, with bradley on dads shoulders, there was another one of bradley in a baseball uniform, next to it was a picture of him in his navy suit, damn did he look good
there were several pictures of me although i tend to ignore those
i turned from the board and looked at the old plane dad had been working on, brushing my name over the old name label and call sign
CHAROLATE BLACKWOOD
"CHARLIE"
i sighed, i missed mom sometimes, i was used to it now that she wasn't around, it's been 17 years, i was only two when she left, and i can't say i remember her a lot
"hey kid" dad pulled me away from my thoughts
"i gotta get going, hey are you okay?" he asked as he looked up from his phone
"yeah i'm okay" my voice was shakier than i realized "just reminiscing i guess"
"i loved your mom Y/N" he said
"no dad i know that, it's just, i don't like change" i said "but i know this change is good, and i wouldn't want you with anyone else"
he smiled at me "she loves you Y/N, and amelia does too"
"yeah i know" i said
"well i've gotta go but i'll see you soon okay kid" he said walking up and giving me a hug
"alright dad, i'll see you later, drive safe" i yelled as we parted ways

when i got home bradley was out running errands, i went upstairs to do some laundry
the house felt empty when he wasn't here, i don't even want to think about what it would be like when he was out on missions.
i sat down, scrolling through my phone when i heard the door open
"hey Y/N you home?" i heard him call out
"yeah, over here babe" i responded not looking up from my phone
he sat across from my on the couch "hey are you okay?" he said placing a hand on my leg, i let out a sigh "yeah i'm okay" i turned off my phone and put it down "just been thinking a lot about how i'm going to deal with you being away sometimes"
he looked at me as he pushed his lips into a thin line "i was thinking about that too, i don't like the thought of leaving you" he moved closer to me pulling my legs so they sat in his lap
i sighed before changing the subject "what did you get at the store?"
"just some groceries, and stuff, nothing exciting, sorry" he said shrugging, i smiled at him
"you ready for Monday?" he asked me, my first day instructing "as ready as i'll ever be, i never thought id have to worry about my first day of school ever again" i flopped back onto the couch
"oh come on your gonna do great" he said trying to reassure me
"oh Please, you said it yourself air force pilots are bad news, and my class is more than half of them" i responded, this year top gun decided to mix with some air force pilots to see how their flying techniques might be able to help each other, a type of teaching each other new tricks kinda thing
Bradley sighed "you'll be alright, now come on, let's do something to get your mind off of it" he said standing up from the couch,
i knew the next five days would be stressfully, but i'm glad i had Bradley here with me